Knitted fabric and method



Patented Sept. `23, 1941 KNITTED FABRIC AND METHOD Wiliam L. smith, Jr.,Pawtucket, n. I., assigner to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., acorporation of Massachusetts Application September 5, 1939, Serial No.293,395

4 Claims.

This case deals with knitted 'fabrics in which elastic yarns have beenincorporated in a manner to rcomplete a selvage and thereafter, torender the fabric elastic generally.

In the figures of drawing:

Fig. 1 is a conventional representation of a section of fabric, loopsbeing shown greatly enlarged;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a half hose towhich the invention may beapplied; and

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a stocking top of slightly different typeswherein the invention may be applied.

Referring to Fig. 1 an elastic yarn, preferably fed at an independentfeeding station in a two feed knitting machine such as a hosierymachine, is taken in the hooks of every fourth needle such as would knitin wales 2, 3, 4 and 5. It is to be understood that at this time thefeeding -of this elastic is merely for the purpose of loading it withinhooks of needles and there is no provision for clearing latches norcastingy loops from these needles until a later time( At the main sideof the machine at which it is preferred to feed a non-elastic yarn oryarns no' knitting is being done so that in effect, that part of themachine is relatively inactive. Then for three revolutions more or less,said elastic yarn is taken in the hooks of every intermediate fourthneedle, that is, those needles knitting in wales 6, 1, 8, etc. At thistime four courses have been loaded, one in the hooks of the firstmentioned needles and three in'the hooks of those second mentioned. Itis to be understood that the elastic is fed under slight tension. Whenreleased it will contract and straighten out, then appearing as severalstretches of elastic threaded through sinker loops or a followingcourse.

The elastic yarn is then fed to every second needle and is drawn intoknitted loops in course A, casting off the previously held elastic.Thereafter two courses of non-elastic yarn 9 are fed (ci. tss-172) sideand by knitting the nen-elastic yarn et every needle at the main side.

. While that type of fabric is preferably knitted in continuation of theselvage and intervening course or courses such as C, other types ofgarter top may be knitted in which the elastic will beknitted, inlaid,or otherwise incorporated at spaced walesso as to draw those walestogether tosmulate a rib appearance and to constitute the stocking topas a' garter. i

In Fig. 2 a half hose is shown to which the in- Vvennen may be applied,the top In being knitted in a manner described above, the selvage Il'oe-- garter top as may be found most satisfactoryto prevent rolling ofthe fabric.

Referring to Fig. 3, the invention may be ap-l plied to a fabric inwhich that portion of the top indicated at I3 is knitted as illustratedin Fig. 1 while apart of the top at Il is to be knitted similarly exceptthat the elastic is to be drawn into independent stitches vat morewidely spaced wales and knitted at the so-called main side of themachine, these resulting in the courses B and C.

This completes a selvage and gives the course C as a sort of anti-curlor anti-roll barrier before elastic is again introduced to beincorporated in some desired manner throughout the remainder of thestocking top thereby to produce a garter;

From this point it is preferred to knit the elastic f i knitting aselvage having a course of elastic yarn-` than ever-y other Wale. Forexample, the elastic might be knitted on every fourth-needle or everysixth needle. The non-elastic zone as at l2 may also intervene betweenan edge l5 and the zone I4. The invention is defined inthe appended.

claims.

I claim:

1. Aknitted stocking top having a selvage including an elastic coursedrawn into knitted stitches at every second Wale and having incorporatedtherein several stretches ofy elastic, these being held by beingthreaded through sinker wales of said course of elastic, some throughsinker wales adjacent spaced stitches and others through sinker walesadjacent stitches intermediate those spaced stitches. y

2. A knitted fabric having a selvage including elastic, severalstretches of which have been loadled in predetermined wales and a finalcourse drawn into knitted loops at every second wale, a plurality ofnon-elastic. yarn courses following said final course of elastic,thereafter a plurality of courses in which elastic and non-elastic yarnsare knitted to form 'a garter top.

3. A methodfof knitting including the steps of and several stretches ofelastic threaded through the non-elastic and elastic material knittedsimulsinkerloops of that elastic yarn course, then knitting a pluralityof courses of non-elastic ma.- terial without elastic incorporatedtherein, and

slight tension and at spaced wales.

^ Y 4. A method oi.l knitting as in laim 3 wherein taneously are firstknitted through a zone in which the elastic is incorporated at Walesrelatively widely spaced and then throughout a continuing portion of thestocking top at more closely spaced wales.

WILLIAM SMITH, JR.

